Handbag



May 10, 1938.

R. W LEHRFELD HANDBAG 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 28, 1936 HIS ATTORNEY.

y 1938. R. w. LEHRFELD 2,116,902

HANDBAG Filed NOV. 28, 1936 2'Sheets-Shee't2 Patented May 10, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HANDBAG Application November 28, 1936, Serial No. 113,229

6 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in handbags and containers generally, and relates more specifically to an improved lady's pocketbook, the main body portion of which is constructed of a single blank of sheet metal.

Pocketbooks are usually made from leather or fabric and for the most part are ornamental only to the extent that external ornaments are affixed or secured thereto. It is one of the prinlu cipal objects of the present invention to provide a novel pocketbook made of sheet metal, which metal is left uncoveredandwhich is suitably decorated as by etching and/or enameling, thereby providing an opportunity for unusual ornamental effects.

Some of the modern, low-cost production methods of etching metal can be carried out only upon metal having a flat surface. In accordance with the present invention, the body portion of the bag is first formed in a generally rectangular piece of flat sheet metal, the two opposed transverse edges of which form the upper edges of the completed bag. The surface of the flat blank which forms the outside of the completed bag is next {I suitably etched and/or colored or otherwise ornamented if desired. The blank is now bent transversely substantially at the center thereof, the bent portion preferably constituting the arc of a fairly large circle, which bent portion serves as the bottom of the pocketbook. Flexible end walls are secured to the bag and a suitable fastener member secured to the upper edges thereof. The blank is bent to a point wherein the transverse edges which constitute the upper edge of the bag are normally separated and when such edges are secured together by the fastener means, they are under tension so that when the fastener is released, the bag springs open. It is desirable that the extent of opening of these edges be limited 40 by the flexible end walls which are made of leather or fabric. Thus the pocketbook is formed with a single, substantially rigid body portion having no hinges.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved ladys pocketbook which is more durable than the usual fabric or leather bag and far more attractive in appearance.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a broken perspective view of the pocketbook in an open position;

Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section taken through a modified form of pocketbook conrectangular;

structed in accordance with the present inven tion;

Fig. 4 is a front elevation of another pocketbook which is substantially circular rather than Fig. 5 is an end elevation of another pocketbook having a slide fastener closure member;

Fig. 6 is a broken section taken through the preferred embodiment of the invention, the view showing one type of closure means; and In Fig. 7 is a broken section showing one method of securing the flexible end walls to the case.

The pocketbook or handbag in its presently preferred form is made from a single blank of sheet metal which is substantially rectangular in shape. The blank is preferably ornamented as by etching and/or enameling, as indicated at 10, prior to the forming operation. It is to be understood, however, that the method of effecting this surfaceornamentation constitutes no part of the present invention. The blank is bent transversely at the center thereof as indicated at H, which curved portion constitutes the lower wall of the bag. The opposed transverse edges of the blank are provided with a bead l2 in order to remove the otherwise sharp edge of the metal. They may, of course, be covered with leather or fabric if desired. The blank is so bent that the side walls l4 and I 5 of the bag are normally separated and when they are joined in meeting relationship by means of a pivoted clasp I! or other suitable closure fastener, they are under tension in order that when the fastener is released, the meeting edges spring apart. The details of this fastener member are shown in Fig. 6.

The vertical edges of the bag are preferably covered with a strip of leather or fabric I9 which removes the possibility of injury from the sharp edges and also provides a mounting for the end walls 20, which end walls may be of fabric or leather and which are secured to the binding by means of rivets or stitching 22. If desired, however, the end walls may be secured directly to the vertical edges of the case by means of rivets or adhesive or otherwise. The upper edge 24 of the end walls is of such length as to permit the pocketbook to spring open sufficiently to enable the user to have easy access to the contents of the bag, all as indicated in Fig. 2. The interior of the bag may be lined with leather or fabric, as is well known in the art.

The construction of the bag indicated in Fig. 3 is somewhat similar to the preferred embodiment, except that the lower wall 26 is formed with a concave portion 21, thereby providing two bending portions 28 and 29. This construction is not weakened as much by opening and closing of the bag as is the construction indicated in Figs. 1 and 2. In this instance also side walls 30 and 3| are indicated as having outwardly turned upper edges 32 which flatly engage each other when the case is in a closed position.

In Fig. 4, the modified bag is constructed somewhat similar to the bag constituting the preferred embodiment, in that the body portion is formed from a single piece of flat metal which is bent transversely at the center thereof to form the lower wall 34 of the bag. Instead of the rectangular shape of the bag in the preferred embodiment, however, the side and top edges indicated as 35 are formed in one continuous curve, which edges are joined together in any desired manner. In this instance, the side walls 36 of the bag are suitably ornamented as at 31 and the upper portion of the bag is provided with a handle structure 38 which is secured to the bag by means of. small rings 39.

Any suitable type of fastener for the upper edges may be employed and in Fig. 5 a conventional slide fastener is illustrated. In this instance the bag is formed with side walls 42, a concave lower wall 43 of the type illustrated in Fig. 3, substantially flexible end walls 44 and upperbeaded edges 45. This bag is further provided with a handle structure indicated at 4B. In this embodiment the end walls are indicated as being formed from a single piece of material which extends as a narrow strip over the upper edges of the pocketbook, the individual fastener elements 41 of the slide fastener being preferably secured directly to such flexible strip. In this instance, it is desirable to have the closure extend to any suitable point below the upper edge of the bag. A conventional slide 49 is adapted to join the fasteners.

What I claim is:

1. A container constructed from a substantially rectangular blank of sheet metal, the blank being bent transversely substantially at the center thereof to form opposed side walls for the con.- tainer, end walls for the container constructed from flexible, non-metallic material, the opposite edges of the end Walls being secure-d to the marginal edges of the side walls, the opposed upper meeting edges of the side walls being normally separated, and fastener means for maintaining said edges in meeting engagement under tension.

2. A container constructed from a substantially rectangular blank of sheet metal, the blank being bent transversely substantially at the center thereof to form opposed side walls for the container, end walls for the container constructed from flexible, non-metallic material, the opposite edges of the end walls being secured to the marginal edges of the side Walls, the opposed upper meeting edges of the side walls being proto form a base portion for the container, end

walls for the container constructed from substantially flexible material, the opposite edges of the end walls being secured to the marginal edges of the side walls, the opposed upper meeting edges of the side walls being normally separated, and fastener means for maintaining said edges in meeting engagement under tension.

4. A container constructed from a substantially rectangular blank of sheet metal, the blank being bent transversely substantially at the center thereof to form opposed side walls for the container, the bent portion being of sufficient width to form a base portion for the container, end walls for the container constructed from substantially flexible material, the opposite edges of the end walls being secured to the marginal edges of the side walls, the opposed upper meeting edges of the side walls being normally separated, fastener means for maintaining said edges in meeting engagement under tension, the outward movement of the upper portions of the side Walls being limited by the flexible end walls.

5. A container constructed from a substantially rectangular blank of sheet metal, the blank being bent transversely substantially at the center thereof to form opposed side walls for the container, the bent portion being substantially arcuate in transverse section to form a base wall for the container, end Walls for the container constructed from substantially flexible, non-metallic material, the opposite edges of the end Walls being secured to the marginal edges of the side walls, the opposed upper meeting edges of the side walls being normally separated and elongated fastener means for maintaining said edges in meeting engagement under tension, the fastener means extending over the length of. the upper edge of the container and into the flexible end walls thereof.

6. A container constructed from a blank of sheet metal, the blank being bent transversely substantially at the center thereof to form opposed side walls for the container, end walls for the container constructed from material having a higher degree of flexibility than the side wall portions, the opposite edges of the end walls being secured to the marginal edges of the side walls, the upper edges of the side Walls being normally separated and fastener means for yieldably maintaining said edges in meeting engagement.

ROBERT W. LEHRFELD. 

